• Words
  • Tone
  • Accent
  • Vowel length
• Vowels
  • General
  • Diphthong
  • Juxtaposed
• Consonants
  • General
  • Doubled
• introduction

Vowels in general

There are three types of vowels , regular, long and nasal (see right).

The regular vowel is normally pronounced medium short. In the vocabulary lists regular vowels pronounced short will be marked by an accent mark (`) and regular vowels pronounced long will be marked with circumflex accent (^) in the column 'pronunciation'.

The sound of the nasal vowel type, is often hard to distinguish from the combination of the regular vowel type and the letter ŋ. Therefore, you will find both types of writings in Zarma text. For examples, you will find both 'dõ' and 'doŋ' in text, both meaning formerly. Remark, the Zarma word 'do' has other meanings.

In the tables below the general pronunciation of the consonants in Zarma is given with examples.

A

There are three main different types of pronunciation of the letter 'a' in addition to the length, the 'a' as in the French word 'ami' (friend) (IPA: a), the 'a' as in arm (IPA: ɑ), and a nasal 'a' as in the French word 'sans' (without).

E

There are three main different types of pronunciation of the letter 'e' in addition to the length, the 'e' as in 'hey' (IPA: eɪ), the 'e' as in ever (IPA: ɛ), and a nasal 'e' more or less as in the French word 'ennuyer' (to annoy).

I

There are three main different types of pronunciation of the letter 'i' in addition to the length, the 'i' as in 'hit' (IPA: ɪ), the 'i' as in eat (IPA: i), and a nasal 'i' as in the French word 'vin' (wine).

O

There are three main different types of pronunciation of the letter 'o' in addition to the length, the 'o' as in road (IPA: oʊ), the 'o' as in long (IPA: ɔ), and a nasal 'o' as in the French word 'bon' (good).

U

The letter 'u' is always pronounced as the 'oo' in food, but the length may differ and it may have a nasal sound in some words.